Automatic air coupler



G. MILLER AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLER March 10, 1936.

2 sheets-sheet4 1 Filed Jan. 8, 1954 INVENTOR AT-roR NEYS March-1o, me.G, WLLER 2033,34@

AUTOMATIC AIR COUPLER Filed Jan. 8, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY a ATTORNEY@Patented Mar. 1o, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT (,)FFICE AUTOMATIC AIRCOUPLER Application January 8, 1934, Serial No. 705,772

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved automatic air coupler for trains,and a purpose of the invention is to provide, in a device of this kind,wherein should the Janney car coupler pull out the air lineautomatically uncouples and the air is automatically shut olii, thussaving the train from being wrecked.

It is another purpose to provide a device, which eliminates thenecessity of uncoupling and coupling the air hose and opening andclosing angle cocks, by reason of the fact that when the two units ofthe automatic air coupler unite the air is automatically cut in from onecar of the train to another.

Another purpose is to provide an automatic air coupler associated inclose position to the standard Janney car coupler, so that when theelements of the car coupler automatically connect, male elements of therespective uniting units of the air coupler automatically enter femaleelements of the respective units, and through the medium of the maleelements contacting with and actuating plungers, suitable check valvesof the air coupling units are automatically opened, thereby cutting inthe air of the air line.

Still another purpose is to provide an automatic airvcoupler, theconstruction and arrangement of the elements of which save considerabletime and labor in coupling upr a train consisting of a number of cars,also avoiding trainmen and the like stepping in between the cars forconnecting the joints between the air line or hose of the cars, andthereby saving many lives and limbs, besides saving considerable expensefor the railroads by reducing wrecks to a substantial minimum.

Still another purpose is to provide an automatic air coupler, whichpractically entirely eliminates wrecks caused by the cars of the trainbeing parted or separated while the train is in motion, due to the factthat when the air coupler automatically uncouples the air of the airline is automatically shut oi and the brakes released.

A still further purpose is to provide an automatic air coupler, whereinin case either or both of the units of the coupler become damaged, theycan be easily and very quickly replaced.

A still further purpose is to provide a coupler of this kind, wherein inthe event the cars of a train bump together, the automatic air coupleris of such character as to withstand resistance, and the heavier thetrain pulls, the

tighter the air coupler holds, and in the event the train is taking adown grade the train is airproof, and furthermore it is not possible totamper with the air line while the train is in motion. 5

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no waylimitative, and that while still keeping within the scope of theinvention, any desired modification of details and proportions maybemade in the construction of l0 the appliance according to circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts to behereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

Figure i is a View in side elevation showing 15 two units of theimproved automatic air coupler connected.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the improved automatic air coupler,showing the two units of the coupler connected and the check valvesactuated.

Figure 3 is a sectional View of one ofthe automatic air coupling unitsillustrating the check valve in a closed position and the actuatingplunger in its normal position.

Figure l is a transverse sectional View on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings I identifies a conventional type of draw barcarrying the shank 2 of a conventional car coupler 3, and suspended fromthe bar I and a beam 4 thereon are guiding supports or hangers, 5, 6,and 'I for the suspension of the air line 8, which is coupled at 9 tothe usual air hose I0.

Surrounding the air line 8 and interposed between collars II (one oneach side of the hanger or support 6) and the collars I2 (which aresecured at I3 to the air line) are coil springs I4 and I5. The spring I5has a little greater resistance to compression than the spring III,thereby retaining the air coupling unit IE slightly beyond the end faceof the conventional car coupler 3, so that when two cars of a train cometogether both units I6 will automatically unite as they recede, thesprings I4 and I5 acting to equalize according to the vibration of thecars of the train and when taking the curves.

Each air coupler unit comprises a casing having a iiat outer face with afemale element or socket I'I extending inwardly therefrom and a 50 maleelement or nozzle I8 extending outwardly therefrom, said male element ornozzle having a reduced shank I9 which is threaded at 20 into the casing2I of the air coupler. The male element or nozzle has a passage 22 whichcom- 55 municates with a passage 23 in the casing 2|. The male elementor nozzle also has a tapered portion 24, which receives or carries asimilarly tapered rubber gasket 25, which enters the tapered portion 26of the female element of an adjacent air coupler unit. The male elementor nozzle beyond the tapered gasket carrying portion has an extension 21which is cylindrical to enter a cylindrical portion 28 of the femaleelement of an adjacent air coupler unit. The extreme end of theextension 21 is closed, but in the cylindrical wall thereof an opening29 is provided.

This opening 29 of the extensionxZ'l of the male element or nozzlecommunicates with a chamber 30 of the casing 2| of an adjacent aircoupler unit. This chamber' 30 as will be noted not only communicateswith *the passage 23, but also with a passage 3| in the casing 2| whichin turn communicates with a passage 32 formed in the reduced part 33 ofthe casing 2|. However, intervening the passages 3| and 32 a shoulderconstituting a check valve seat 34 is provided, there being a checkvalve 35 for cooperation with said seat for shutting off communicationbetween the two passages 3| and 32, and an angle leaf spring 361cooperates with the vcheck valve 35 in addition to the pressure of airin the train line to retain the check valve normally closed and therebyprevent escape of air pressure from the train` line.

A suitable reducer or coupling 31 is threaded to the reduced part 33 ofthe casing 2|, there being an air line pipe or conduit 8 threaded at 39into the reducer, in which case the chamber 32 and the passage of theair line communicate.

The chamber 30 is formed transversely of the casing 2|, and is closed bymeans of a suitable plate 40 bolted or otherwise secured at 4| over theopening leading to the chamber 30. By removal of this plate (there beinga rubber gasket 42 between it and the side face of the air couplingunit), it is possible to gain access to the chamber 30 for the insertionor assembly of a plunger 43 which is adapted to be actuated by theextension 2!, for opening the check valve 35, thereby cutting in the airfrom the air line of one car to the air line of an adjacent car of atrain.

This plunger or actuator 43 for the check valve is angular, and itslateral portion 44 is mounted on and carried by a sliding pin 45, theextremity of a reduced extension 46 of the pin is headed or swaged overas shown at 41 to retain the portion 44 on the pin. Surrounding theshank 48 of the pin and between a shoulder 49 thereof and a plug 50threaded into the casing 2| is a coil spring 5|, the shank of the pinbeing guided in the plug 50, while the body of the pin is guided in abore 52. 'Ihe rear end of the pin beyond the plug has a nut 53 threadedthereon using a cotter pin 54 as a safety precaution for the nut,tolimit the forward movement of the pin and the plunger. A portion 55 ofthe plunger 43 has a tapered head 56, the apex of which is in closeproximity to the check valve 35.

Obviously when two cars of a train come together, the male elements ornozzles entering the female elements of adjacent air coupler units, thetwo units receding relative to the cars against the actions of theequalizing springs on the air line, the extensions 2`| enter thecylindrical passages 28 and engage with the heads or swaged overportions 41 of the yieldably guided pins 45, thereby actuating theplungers, in which event the apexes of the heads of the plungers bearupon the respective Vcheck valves, and thereby cut in the air from theair line of one car with the air line of an adjacent car.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed is:

An automatic air coupler for trains, comprising slidably mounted springpressed substantially similar cooperating units, each including a casingprovided with a central chamber and having a fiat outer face with asocket extending inwardly therefrom, a male element having a passagetherethrough communicating with the chamber and detachably secured inthe casing to extend outwardly from the flat face to be received in thesocket of a companion unit, a hollow reduced portion extendingrearwardly from the casing for communication with the air line, saidcasing having a passage therein between the chamber and the hollowportion, an angle leaf spring secured in the hollow portion, a checkvalve loosely carried by the spring to control the latter passage andbeing normally vheld closed by the spring, an angle plunger dependinginto the chamber and extending in the latter passage, a head on theplunger engageable with the valve to open the same, spring pressed meanscarrying the plunger and normally holding the head away from the valve,said spring pressed means being arranged in the path of a male elementof a companion unit received in the socket for moving the head againstthe valve to open the latter when the units are in face to facerelation, access means to the chamber and a detachable closure therefor.

GEORGE MILLER.

